[Amoniustauns]

how can we compete with the powerful and rich Christians who have built schools, orphanages, clinics and churches especially in Africa? Even if people want to, or the Govt. how can they accept that what is built even in remotest places to help poor and needy people is all false and wrong?
Islam is the only way.
We face this challenge daily.

[maxfieldj1]

brother, excellent question.

Why re-build something that is already there? Why not just step right in and help alongside them - I don't think anyone can claim rights over the people they are helping (or can they?). The missionaries have already set up an infrastructure of help through which they also spread the message of Christianity, can't we just step in and help while spreading the message of Islam? Missionaries are VERY organized and they do their homework ahead of time. They've learned through trial-and-error throughout the centuries. I remember, during one open-house at a mosque, some Christians came and appeared quite interested in learning about Islam. They were the only ones to attend so they received a lot of attention and all of their questions were answered. They invited some of us to their home and we accepted the invitation, hoping to continue our dawah there. They were very kind and courteous, and were particularly respectful towards us - taking care not to offer a hand to shake etc. They asked all sorts of questions which we tried to answer to the best of our abilities and off we went. A few months later, the couple happened to shop in the store I was working at. I recognized them right away and as we spoke some more at the store they slipped and told me they were moving to the middle-east to do missionary work... gasp... while they were genuinely interested in learning about Islam, they were doing so in order to prepare for their mission. They never disclosed this to us in the beginning nor did they disclose this during our visit to their home. Anyway, I think this deception is something that carries through in their missionary work and insha'Allah with a little guidance, the Truth can be revealed (not as an attack towards Christianity but as an invitation to Islam).

With intentions to please Allah (SWT), in a 'battle for souls' I don't think we have to disclose our reasons to the Christian missionaries either

"O our Lord! truly Thou dost know what we conceal and what we reveal : For nothing whatever is hidden from God, whether on earth or in heaven. (14:38) "How oft, by Allah's will, hath a small force vanquished a big one? Allah is with those who steadfastly persevere." (2:249) That said, remember that there are likely more than a few missionaries (among all sorts of other people) sitting at their computers reading this and all of our other words as well.

brothers and sisters.

[Amoniustauns]

ASWW
JazakAllah for the insight. This long and tedious "stuggle for souls" is like an ever lasting yoyo either way and has historically been very significant in Africa, especially.
Poverty, the main vice has always played a huge role in tipping the scales.
Whilst I understand you have to use their infrastructure, this is about deliberate policy in this day and age and also about keeping us Muslims out by them and at every level, including politics.
Whilst progress is being made in the west and europe these poor countries souls are being sold off.
It is only when people hit walls and find themselves totally neglected, they come around looking for alternatives like Islam. Especially when the Wests hypocrisy comes to light. Still, as Muslims we do not present a better alternative unfortunately.
Phew!! It does get tiring sometimes and Alhamdolillah for places like SF where at least you can vent out your frustrations. If the slippery missionaries are reading this than what can we do?, except pray to Allah to open their bosoms to the beauty of Islam, InshaAllah.

[maxfieldj1]

Brother Qibla, it is frustrating on many levels. I have a hard time imagining the full extent/effect of the difficulties with nothing to personally compare them with. Yet, without a full grasp of what it feels like, a full appreciation of its lack (or wanting and striving for the opposite) is also difficult. I mean, we can imagine hunger, torture, pain and suffering and we can catch glimpses of it as we hop in and out of taxis, surf through channels and catch glimpses of it in print -but I personally do not think we fully grasp it until we actually slow down to experience it ourselves. I guess the closest we all come is when we fast as an Ummah, united. Being there in that misery is experiencing it - living it is experiencing it. But being here, away from such difficulties (be it next door or thousands of kms away) and smelling our well-tended rose gardens fills us with pleasure and love; only, it is half of what we should experience to fully appreciate Pleasure and Love.

All this to say: we are improvished and need Allah (SWT). We all feel His Promise - some get glimpses of what Paradise might be like and others get glimpses of what Hell might have in store, though both infinitely more than whatever we can see or imagine.

The poor need our help and we need to feel poverty through them and this suggests a united effort. I've been noticing this theme a lot on SF in various forms and perhaps there is movement towards that unity? May Allah (SWT) help us achieve a balanced appreciation so that we collectively better carry out our wazifa to serve Him.

And Allah (SWT) knows best.

55. But teach (thy Message) : for teaching benefits the Believers.
56. I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me.
57. No Sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they should feed Me.
58. For Allah is He Who gives (all) Sustenance, --Lord of Power,-- Steadfast (for ever). (Sura Zariyat)